Search form

You are here

Obituaries

Harold St. Louis, 82, Lena, formerly of Shawano, passed away peacefully at his home on Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2018. He was born May 21, 1935, in Windsor, Ontario, Canada to Eugene and Maria (Laporte) St. Louis. Harold left Canada at an early age and moved to California. He eventually moved to Waukegan, Illinois, where he met and married Kathleen Alto. In 1970, they moved to Lena where they owned and operated a dairy farm until parting ways in 1983. He later met his longtime friend and companion, Delores Pashek, and moved to Shawano in 1988, then later returning to Lena in 2013 so they could be closer to family. He commuted from Shawano to Illinois, where he worked as a cement finisher. Harold especially enjoyed his employment with Redstone in Gurnee, Drake Concrete in Libertyville, and Circle Concrete in Zion. Harold was a proud member of the Cement Finishers Union since 1965 and attended many of their meetings. After retiring in 1997, he continued to stay active in pouring concrete.

The Rev. Paul Wesley Iwig, 85, passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2018, at Midland Hospice House in Topeka, Kansas. He was born on Sept. 28, 1932, in Huscher, Kansas, the son of the Rev. Herbert and Ethel Jones Iwig.

Paul graduated from Longford High School in 1950, then attended Kansas State for two years before attending North Central Illinois University. He received his Master of Divinity in 1956. Paul served churches as an EUB and later as a United Methodist minister ​at​ Coal Creek, Alida, Emporia, Olpe, Madison, Big Springs, Stull and Lyndon, Kansas. He was a member of the Lyndon United Methodist Church and the Lyndon Lions Club.

On Aug. 18, 1956, Paul was united in marriage to Joyce Jones in Gillett. To this union four daughters were born.

Paul was preceded in death by his parents, Herbert and Ethel; and by his sister, Carolyn Forney.

Oconto Falls – Audrey A. (Kramer) Piper died on Friday evening, March 2, surrounded by her family. The youngest of 14 brothers and sisters, Audrey was born June 25, 1932, to Paul and Josephine (Matuzeski) Kramer at the family farm near Lena and graduated from Lena High School. On June 23, 1951, she married Earl Piper at St. Charles (now St. Anne’s) Catholic Church in Lena. Audrey worked at the Oconto Falls High School cafeteria for six years and retired as a clerk from the Oconto Falls Post Office after 24 years. She was a member of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church and Altar Rosary Society. An interesting fun fact about Audrey is that she was in attendance at the infamous Ice Bowl in 1967 cheering for her favorite team, the Packers.

Dale M. Mikkelson, 94, of Gillett, passed away on Monday, Feb. 26, 2018. Dale was born on April 7, 1923, to the late Nels Peters and Martha (Arveson) Mikkelson in Suring. Dale married Ethel “Teddy” Anderson on Oct. 27, 1951, at Section Eight Baptist Church in Pound. The couple farmed in the Town of Maple Valley until moving to Brillion in 1964. While in Brillion, Dale drove gas truck. Dale retired from Larsen Co./Dean’s Foods as a field mechanic. In 1988, Dale and Ethel retired and the couple lived in the City of Gillett from 1993 until Ethel’s passing in 2014. Dale and Ethel performed as a family duet for many weddings and funerals over the years. As their two sons developed their musical talents, they formed a Family Gospel String Band. Dale was a member of Maple Valley Community Church.

Myles H. Wellnitz, 60, Morgan, died Thursday evening, Feb. 22, 2018, at home surrounded by his family following a hard-fought battle with cancer. He was born Jan. 31, 1958, in Oconto Falls to Harvey and Betty (VanDenElzen) Wellnitz. Myles attended Oconto Falls Public Schools, graduating high school with the class of 1976. Shortly after graduation, he went to work for Mid-Central Tool.

On Sept. 13, 1980, he married Dawn Gomber in Gillett. The couple has lived in the Oconto Falls area for all their married lives where Myles’ employment with S&M Machines lasted until this past September, when he couldn’t work because of his health. He was a member of the Oconto Falls United Methodist Church. Myles will be fondly remembered for his knack for inventing things, helping others and his love of a cold Busch Light next to a bonfire.

Ruth O. Behnke, 97, Oconto Falls, died Tuesday afternoon, Feb. 20, 2018. She was born in the Town of Stiles to Ole and May (Erickson) Fredrickson. Ruth grew up on the family farm, graduating from Lena High School with the class of 1938. She graduated from Marinette County Normal in 1942 earning her teaching certificate and in 1966 earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education at UW-Oshkosh. Ruth taught school for 31 years, first in rural schools, then Lena Grade School and Jefferson Elementary in Oconto Falls, retiring in 1986.

Oriean Gertrude Quandt, 87, of Gillett, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Friday, Feb. 16, 2018. Oriean was born in Oconto Falls on March 5, 1930, the daughter of the late Reynold and Exzina (Fonder) Lambrecht. Oriean was united in marriage to John C. Quandt on Sept. 4, 1948, at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Suring. John preceded her in death on Dec. 24, 2016. In 1955, the couple moved to Appleton, where they resided for 30 years, moving back to the Suring area in 1984. She was a member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Suring, active in the Ladies Aide, a member of the V.F.W. Auxiliary of Mountain and taught Sunday school in Appleton for nine years.

Oriean is survived by: her daughter, Lori (Stacen) Rhine of Missouri; two grandsons, John (Dasha) Quandt of Oshkosh and Daniel (special friend, Diane) Sommerfeld of Dale; two great-granddaughters and three great-grandsons. She is further survived by her brother, Milon Lambrecht of Mountain, and numerous other relatives.

Agatha Mae “Gaye” Tietyen, 84, formerly of Gillett and resident of Atrium Post Acute Care, Oconto Falls, since 2014, went to be with her Lord on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2018.

Gaye was born in Gillett on Feb. 14, 1933, a daughter of the late Arthur and Lydia (Kasten) Ruege. She attended Gillett schools and married Glenroy Harvey “Tony” Tietyen on Oct. 21, 1950. They were blessed with three children: Gary and twins Jan and Jill. The family lived in Milwaukee until 1965, returning to Gillett to raise their family. Gaye was employed locally at Miller’s Gift Shop, Witt’s Market (Gillett) and later for Wagner Gas in billing until she retired. Gaye and her family attended St. John’s Lutheran Church in Gillett.

Steven “Steve” C. Wirtz, 54, Oconto Falls, died suddenly Wednesday afternoon, Feb. 7, 2018, at home following complications from a recently diagnosed illness. The oldest of four children born to Chester “Chet” J. and Janice (Hansen) Wirtz was born May 22, 1963, in Oconto Falls. Steve attended Oconto Falls public schools, graduating from high school with the class of 1982.

On June 1, 1991, he married Joanne Taycher. Steve was a self-employed farmer and for the past 10 years employed at Gaertig Farms in the Town of Morgan, until having to take a leave of absence due to declining health.

Judith A. Ondik, 72, of Gillett, passed away peacefully at her home on Monday, Feb. 5, 2018. Judy was born on June 26, 1945, to the late Arnold and Evangeline (Zill) Krause.

She attended Gillett schools and eventually married her high school sweetheart, Bob Ondik on Sept. 12, 1964, at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Suring.

Living in Gillett, Judy enjoyed being a homemaker and raising their family of four. Later in life, she worked part-time at Yancy’s Restaurant and the Gillett Shell Station. Over the years, the things most important to her were being close to home with her family, friends and dogs.